ON THE ROAD
Design Director Melinda Jeffries visited furniture manufacturer, Teknion, in Ontario to engage in valuable conversations and an industrial design challenge. Interior Designer Melinda Jeffries visited the Lévis, Quebec Teknion office, where she was able to learn from the Research and Development team's hands-on approach to solving design challenges. A globally recognized furniture manufacturer renowned for its effective and stylish corporate space solutions, Teknion takes a collaborative and responsive approach. The St-Vallier site, originally home to Roy and Breton, was established in 1956 and acquired by Teknion in 1999. Today, with locations worldwide, Teknion employs 1,200 people. The trip was filled with valuable discussions about the workplace, products, and interactive activities. The trip attendees included a mixed group of general contractors, designers, project managers and sales reps from across the Central Virginia region. Among the many sessions held during the trip, three agenda activities stood out, best showcasing Teknion's commitment to innovation and problem-solving.
Through the lens of product development, strategic opportunities and fabrication capabilities, smbw got a glimpse into Teknion's collaborative process. Activity 1: Product Focus Group Teknion showcased their product lines and approach to production, sharing several on the boards designs. The new introductions were split 50/50, half focused on casegoods and the remainder in comfortable seating settings. The group was asked to rank the new products by functionality and visual appeal. Activity 2: RFP Case Study The next presentation focused on case studies, showing how Teknion responded to several RFPs with creative solutions to client requests. It was clear that even if they didn't have the exact product for a client, they could provide an innovative and unique approach to answering the brief and achieving the client or designer's goals.